New York Yankees News: Slade Heathcott Begins Rehab Assignment

Slade Heathcott, who has been out since late-May with a quad strain, is beginning his rehab assignment with the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs. In his first two games back from injury, he went 0-for-6.

Heathcott, who was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2009 amateur draft, has a dramatic backstory, including alcohol and injuries.

On May 19, he was called up to the majors to replace the injured Jacoby Ellsbury, and the Yankees were impressed with what they saw. In addition to showcasing solid defense and considerable speed, Heathcott went 6-for-18 with a home run during his six game cup of coffee.

The 24 year-old will have trouble making his was back onto the Yankees’ roster, with Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran both healthy and with Chris Young and Garrett Jones also on the roster, the Yankees have considerable outfield depth.

Heathcott’s fate, however, could change with the impending non-waiver trade deadline. The Yankees have been hesitant to ship off their two major prospects, Aaron Judge and Luis Severino, but maybe they’ll be inclined to give away mid-level tier prospects like Heathcott before Friday. However, the likely targets of the Yankees, such as Cole Hamels or another ace-type starter, will likely come at a price higher than Heathcott alone can offer.

For now, it is likely Healthcott will continue to impress in the minor leagues, where he has racked up 361 hits, including 73 doubles and 18 triples, in seven seasons.

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